September 21, 2015

Popes have visited the US before, and politics have naturally played a role, but I don't think we have ever seen a visit set to be quite as political and polarizing as this one. I think we are about to see unprecedented efforts to trumpet Pope Francis when he agrees with one side and spin his words away when he doesn't. Both left and right will do that, however it will likely be most noticeable with the MSM, since they mostly are on the left. To no one's shock, we will see his criticisms of abortion and modern gender theory downplayed and his views on climate change and poverty trumpeted. His speeches in Spanish, which will be something like 10 out of 14, are the most likely to be misinterpreted and distorted.

I have not read all of the encyclical that Pope Francis issued earlier this year, but I've read enough to know that it has been cherry-picked by both sides on the issues that it addresses. It is a long and complicated document and more nuanced and balanced than we have been led to believe. Even on man-made climate change, which the pope seems to embrace, he notes that it is not his place to determine the science.

On that point, if I could get one minute with Pope Francis I would simply note that "the science is settled" and the "97% consensus" are lies. Not mistakes, deliberate lies that do not further truth and science, but are meant to silence anyone with evidence to the contrary. And we all know who is the father of lies. Lies corrupt, no matter the good intentions of the liar, and a movement that employs lies should not be embraced.

My advice on the pope's visit is to keep an open mind, don't let your knee jerk, and for goodness sake don't trust the MSM to fairly present what he says. That could happen I suppose, but I wouldn't bet on it.

March 14, 2013

Anchor Chris Cuomo(CNN) recounted how two cardinals’ mothers did not want their sons to become pope. “Everyone’s mother — Catholic or not — wants their son to be pope,”...

Well, sure. For example, my old friend Phil Rosenbloom. His mom always prayed for him to become pope...just before she left for Friday night services.

But wait, folks, we have a double from Mr. Cuomo:

Mr. Cuomo, a recent Zucker hire lured away from ABC, also observed that the crowd had spilled out from St. Peter's Square to the “Road of Consolation.” It’s called Via della Conciliazione, which means the Road of Conciliation.

If this keeps up I might just have to revive the Dumbass Stakes. If I do, 2nd Place will now be granted the Chris Cuomo "Road of Consolation" trophy.

March 13, 2013

The College of Cardinals has chosen Pope Francis I. I know very little about him at this point so I won't render an opinion, but it didn't take long for the attacks to commence. This from 2010 probably won't be the dumbest we'll see cited, but it's currently my odds-on favorite for the funniest:

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio not only called the new law "a scheme to destroy God's plan"; he termed it "a real and dire anthropological throwback," as if homosexuality were evolutionarily inferior to heterosexuality.

Er...I have some bad news for you there, slick. One need not be anti-gay to note that actual human reproduction, not one of homosexuality's strongest suits, plays an important role in evolution. But, um, nice try.